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The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
The answer is found by using the sound of a word or phrase. Sounds-like indicators point the way.
The clue has two parts, each one defining the answer without using cryptic devices. Ideally each definition should have no etymological relationship.
A word or series of words that signify a mixing-up of letters.
Examples: changed, at sea, confused, all over the place - anything that indicates change or jumbling.
The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
A type of clue that involves the mixing up of letters without the inclusion of a letter or letters. This clue will have an anagram indicator to signify jumbling and a subtraction indicator to signify the removal of a letter or letters.
A removed letter may be as seen in the clue, an abbreviation for a word in the clue, or the result of another cryptic device like taking the initial letter from a word. Removed letters may be a whole word as seen in a clue, the synonym of a word in the clue (if that synonym is contiguous within the anagram fodder), or the result of another cryptic device like taking the middle two letters from a word.
The answer is found by removing a letter, letters, or a word (either found directly in the clue or derived) from a word or words (or their synonyms). Subtractions involving synonyms must be done with contiguous letters, that is, a word will subtract directly unless specifically indicated. A subtraction indicator is present to initiate the action.
Either a mixture of letters is placed inside or outside other letters, or letters are placed inside or outside a mixture of letters. An anagram indicator and containment indicator will be present.
The answer is found by butting together parts defined in the wordplay. There may be some positional indicators that change the order of these parts.
The answer is hidden among the words of the clue. No spare words should be present. A suitable hidden indicator will point to the buried text.
Examples: part of, associated with, types of.
A type of clue where the WHOLE clue defines the answer, and the WHOLE clue also is the wordplay (a mechanism to derive the answer through various cryptic devices). "&lit" is short for "and literally".
To qualify as an &lit, a clue must have no unused components either in the definition or the wordplay - it must be readable one way as a definition, and another as the wordplay.
A type of clue where the WHOLE clue defines the answer, and the WHOLE clue also is the wordplay (a mechanism to derive the answer through various cryptic devices). "&lit" is short for "and literally".
To qualify as an &lit, a clue must have no unused components either in the definition or the wordplay - it must be readable one way as a definition, and another as the wordplay.
The structure of the answer involves either letters placed outside other letters, or letters placed inside other letters. Which type of container clue is determined by an appropriate container indicator.
David clearly there is a science to Cryptic setting
& therefore it can be subject to Forensic examination.
Just baffles me that today I can have it done bar about Five words without having got too serious about it. Conversely, last week was such a major Challenge.
I would come down on the side of – Just One of Those (Random) Things.
I got he congrats pretty quickly this week in contrast to last week. So what is different?
2d and 7d are great examples of Richards beloved alpahbet soups.
5a and 3d are right on the money.
21a, 24a, and 7d were last in. I ad to get my mind around them but I think they are great clues. Everything is there waiting to be found.
A lot easier this week, 26a took my fancy. Not sure on the parsing of 19d.
19d Wendy – for “departed” think “died” will give it to you..
Very good David, challenging enough for me. 2,7,13 and 14 down are my favourites this week. Thank you ?
Yes Arthur, all your Picks of the Week are on my List too.
Yet again the Alphabet Soups did not disappoint 10a, 2d, 4d, 7d & 13d amongst others.
Also liked 1a & 14d for the neat & precise cluing.
Still baffled & pondering at 15a & 22d
22d The definition is at the end (two words). 8d was a similar clue last week.
15a Charade of 2 parts. David’s tip above shows where the word play is, so the definition is at the other end. A term related to people from a particular area.
15a In algebra we used to write QED (quite easily done)
Just needed to think a little more laterally & get the definitions right.
I have completed the grid but am not getting the congrats message. Really not certain about 13d, doesn’t make sense to me.
Got it at last. My answer for 13d was wrong, correct answer came to me in a flash and now it does make sense.
Yes Christine, it’s a Good One. I also found this a bit tricky.
Was about to offer some help.
Definition is what happens to the answer.
Aren’t those flashes of inspiration just The Best.
If #205 was equivalent to corundum on the Mohs hardness scale, then I found #206 to be roughly equivalent to orthoclase feldspar – still pretty tough.
7d was a standout, and 13d especially so.